Holster belt for carrying a handgun holster

Abstract

A holster belt is configured to support a holster and a handgun combination. The holster belt has a belt portion defining an inner layer and an outer layer comprising an elastic material. The holster belt further has a closure and a holster engagement strip, wherein the holster engagement strip is rigid and is configured to support a holster and a handgun combination, wherein the holster comprises a holster body configured for receiving the handgun and a belt clip, wherein the holster engagement strip is configured to be sized for engagement with the belt clip of the holster.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A holster belt configured to support a holster and hangun combination when in use of the holster belt, wherein the holster includes a holster body and a belt clip, the holster belt comprising:
 a belt portion defining an upper edge, a lower edge, a first end, a second end, an inner face and an outer face, wherein the belt portion further comprises:
 an inner layer comprising an elastic material and defining an upper edge, a lower edge, an inner face and an outer face of the inner layer; and 
 an outer layer comprising an elastic material and defining an upper edge, a lower edge, an inner face and an outer face of the outer layer, wherein the lower edges of the inner and outer layers of the belt portion are secured together; 
 
 a closure disposed on at least one of the first end and the second end, wherein the closure is arranged to couple together the first end and the second end; and 
 a holster engagement strip defining a first end, a second end, an upper edge, a lower edge, an inner face, an outer face, wherein the holster engagement strip comprises a nylon webbing material configured to have a rigidity sufficient to support the holster and handgun combination when the holster and handgun combination is supported by the holster belt, wherein the holster engagement strip is configured to be sized for engagement with the belt clip of the holster when the holster and handgun combination is supported by the holster belt; 
 a first vertical securement seam and a second vertical securement seam, wherein the holster engagement strip is secured to the outer face of the belt portion at the first and the second vertical securement seam, wherein the first and second securement seams are spaced apart at a width configured to accommodate the holster and handgun combination in between the holster engagement strip and the outer face of the belt portion when the holster and handgun combination is supported by the holster belt and the belt clip is secured to the holster engagement strip; 
 wherein a portion of the holster engagement strip between the first and second securement seams defines a holster mounting portion configured to mount the holster between the belt portion and the holster mounting portion when the holster and handgun combination is supported by the holster belt; 
 wherein the holster engagement strip is disposed between the upper and lower edges of the belt portion such that the holster engagement strip is substantially in a middle of the belt portion and substantially horizontally oriented, wherein the holster mounting portion is free from securement to the belt portion between the first and second seams; 
 wherein the inner layer and outer layers of the belt portion are secured to each other at the first and second vertical securement seams; 
 a third vertical securement seam and a fourth vertical securement seam, wherein the inner layer and outer layer of the belt portion are secured to each other at the third and the fourth vertical securement seam, wherein the third vertical securement seam is spaced from the first vertical securement seam towards the first end of the belt portion, and the fourth vertical securement seam is spaced from the fourth vertical securement seam towards the second end of the belt portion; and 
 a first pocket is formed between the inner and outer layers of the belt portion between the first and third vertical securement seams, and a second pocket is formed between the inner and outer layers of the belt portion between the second and fourth vertical securement seams. 
 
     
     
       2. The holster belt of  claim 1 , wherein the holster engagement strip further comprises:
 an inner layer comprising a nylon belt webbing material; and 
 an outer layer comprising a nylon belt webbing material. 
 
     
     
       3. The holster belt of  claim 2 , wherein the inner layer and outer layer of the holster engagement strip in the holster mounting portion are secured to one another. 
     
     
       4. The holster belt of  claim 1 , wherein the holster engagement strip comprises a width of about 1.5 inches. 
     
     
       5. The holster belt of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic material of the inner and outer layers is configured to stretch in the horizontal direction and not in the vertical direction. 
     
     
       6. The holster belt of  claim 1 , wherein the holster engagement strip comprises a scuba webbing material. 
     
     
       7. The holster belt of  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer of the belt portion is discontinuous between the first and second securement seams and configured as separate first and second outer layer portions. 
     
     
       8. The holster belt of  claim 1 , wherein the holster engagement strip further comprises first and second pocket support portions each between the first and second vertical securement seams and the first and second ends of the holster engagement strip, wherein the first and second pocket support portions are each disposed with the respective first and second pockets, wherein the first and second pocket support portions are configured to impart rigidity to the first pocket and second pockets, and wherein each of the first and second pockets is configured to hold a magazine. 
     
     
       9. The holster belt of  claim 8 , wherein the inner layer and outer layer of the belt portion are further secured to each other at a fifth and a sixth vertical securement seam, wherein the fifth securement seam is spaced from the third securement seam towards the first end of the belt portion, and the sixth securement is spaced from the fourth securement seam towards the second end of the belt portion. 
     
     
       10. The holster belt of  claim 9 , wherein a third pocket is formed between the inner and outer layers of the belt portion between the third and fifth securement seams, and a fourth pocket is formed between the inner and outer layers of the belt portion between the fourth and sixth securement seams, wherein each of the third and fourth pockets is configured to hold an accessory. 
     
     
       11. The holster belt of  claim 10 , wherein the inner layer further comprises a layer of cushioning material extending between the third vertical securement seam and fourth vertical securement seams. 
     
     
       12. The holster belt of  claim 11 , wherein the layer of cushioning material is configured to limit the stretching of the elastic material of the inner layer between the third and fourth vertical securement seams, wherein the combination of the inner layer and the holster engagement strip is configured as a leaf spring between the first and second vertical securement seams. 
     
     
       13. The holster belt of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic material of the inner layer and the outer layer is stretchable in the horizontal direction between the third and fourth vertical securement seams and the respective first and second ends of the belt portion. 
     
     
       14. The holster belt of  claim 1 , wherein the closure comprises hook and loop material. 
     
     
       15. The holster belt of  claim 14 , wherein hook material is disposed on the outer face of the belt portion at one of the first and second ends of the belt portion, and loop material is disposed on the inner face of the belt portion at the other of the first and second ends of the belt portion. 
     
     
       16. The holster belt of  claim 1 , wherein the holster engagement strip is horizontal. 
     
     
       17. The holster belt of  claim 1 , wherein the holster engagement strip is canted at an angle of 30 degrees or less. 
     
     
       18. A holster belt configured to support a holster and hangun combination when in use of the holster belt, wherein the holster includes a holster body and a belt clip, the holster belt comprising:
 a belt portion;
 a closure disposed on at least one of a first end and a second end of the belt portion, wherein the closure is arranged to couple together the first end and the second end; and 
 a holster engagement strip located substantially in a middle of the belt portion and substantially horizontally oriented, the holster engagement strip comprising a nylon webbing material configured to have a rigidity sufficient to support the holster and handgun combination when the holster and handgun combination is supported by the holster belt, the holster engagement strip having a width of about 1.5 inches; 
 a first vertical securement seam and a second vertical securement seam, wherein the holster engagement strip is secured to an outer face of the belt portion at the first and the second vertical securement seam, a portion of the holster engagement strip between the first and second securement seams defines a holster mounting portion, wherein the holster mounting portion is free from securement to the belt portion between the first and second seams, and wherein the first and second securement seams are spaced apart at a width configured to accommodate a holster and handgun combination in between the holster engagement strip and the outer face of the belt portion when the holster and handgun combination is supported by the holster belt and the belt clip is secured to the holster engagement strip, the holster belt further configured to accept a right-handed or left-handed IWB holster when the holster and handgun combination is supported by the holster belt and the belt clip is secured to the holster engagement strip; and 
 a first pocket and a second pocket integrally formed in the belt portion on either side of the first and second vertical securement seam. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The holster belt of  claim 18 , further comprising a third pocket and a fourth pocket integrally formed in the belt portion on either side of the first and second pocket away from the holster engagement strip. 
     
     
       20. The holster belt of  claim 18 , wherein the holster engagement strip further comprises:
 an inner layer comprising a nylon belt webbing material; and 
 an outer layer comprising a nylon belt webbing material, 
 wherein the inner layer and outer layer of the holster engagement strip in the holster mounting portion are secured to one another.